Microsoft to Allow Homebrew on WP7

The developers behind the ChevronWP7 jailbreaking tool have discontinued it after striking a deal with Microsoft to integrate homebrewing options directly into the operating system itself.

The ChevronWP7 developers, which include Rafael Rivera, Chris Walsh and Long Zheng, were contacted by Brandon Watson, Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7 at Microsoft about the possibility of bringing some of the jailbreak features into the main OS.

The developers decided to discontinue the tool in order to “fast-track” discussions with Microsoft on how homebrewing can become a pivotal aspect of Windows Phone 7.

It was only last week that Windows Phone 7 was jailbroken with the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool, less than a month after the operating system's initial release.

With Microsoft now offering “to open the Windows Phone 7 platform for broader access to developers and users”, it appears that the walled garden approach it was previously taking may be losing ground.

The unlocking has allowed a number of opportunities for development within the homebrewing community, including a new Windows Phone 7 custom ringtone manager that the ChevronWP7 team have been working on.

It remains to be seen what kinds of homebrewing options will be added to the OS and if ChevronWP7 will resurface again. With some reports indicating a major update to Windows Phone 7 in January 2011, some of those features may come sooner than expected.